Uniform tension feeding mechanism



May 22, 1956 E. L. RASSONS 2,746,410

UNIFORM TENSION FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 12, 1953 ATTOR/Vfy UnitedStates Patent t j j 2,746,410 UNIFORM TENSION FEEDING MECHANISM Erby L.Passons, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignor to Broad Street Machine Company, apartnership composed of This invention relates to multiple thread sewingmachines and more specifically to a -uniform tension feeding mechanismfor chenille sewing machines.

In the manufacture of chenille material, a plurality of separatestrandsof yarn are fed for sewing thereof simultaneously to a base webof material. In order to obtain the most satisfactory results, it isnecessary that the tension on each of these strands of yarn be uniformwith the other strands at all times during the sewing operation.Previously, attempts have been made to solve this problem by the use ofindividually adjustable spring tension discs through each of whichpasses a separate strand. Obviously, it is very difiicult, if notimpossible, to get all of these tension discs adjusted alike, with theconsequent result of much loss in time in adjustment and irregularity inthe finished sewn product.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mechanism foruniformly tensioning all of the strands of yarn in a multiple strandsewing machine.

A further object is to provide a simple and effective feeding andtensioning devicefor use on multiple strand sewing machines which willmaintain a uniform tension on all of the threads.

Still a further object is the provision of a multiple strand feeding andtensioning device which is simple, and requires very little time toadjust.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which,

The single figure illustrates a view in perspective of a preferredembodiment of my invention in use on a small chenille sewing machine.

Referring to the drawing, the chenille machine includes a base 11 whichhas mounted thereon a frame comprising an upright portion 12 and an arm13 extending as a continuation thereof. Through the arm 13 extends themain shaft (not shown) which may be driven by suitable means, as by amotor (not shown), through pulley 14 adjacent hand wheel 15. Suitablysupported in the outer end of arm 13 for vertical reciprocal movementupon the rotation of the main shaft, in a manner commonly known and usedin the art, isa transverse bar 16 in which are mounted a plurality ofneedles 17. Any suitable presser bar mechanism 18 and material feedingmechanism (not shown) may be provided as desired, such being common inthe art and forming no part of this invention. All of the foregoingdescribed construction is commonly known in the art, and will thus notbe further described in detail, my invention being hereinafter describedin detail in conjunction therewith.

' therewith. The diameter of the pulley 22 may be varied by adjustmentof the collar 23, so that the pulley flanges 2,746,410 Patented May 22,1 956 can be moved together or apart. A second pulley 24 on the mainshaft is connected through a belt 25 to pulley 22 for driving of shaft21. With pulley 22, variable speed drive of shaft 21 relative to thespeed of the main shaft may be obtained.

A yarn feed roller 27 is suitably secured to a shaft 28 which is drivenby pulley 22 through shaft 21 and reduction gearing in box29. Gear box29 may be mounted as shown through the use of angle brackets 26 suitablysecured onto bracket support 19. Shaft 28 is supported at each end ofroller 27 in bearings 30 mounted in the legs of U-shaped bracket 31,which is secured to the arm 13 by angle brackets 32 and 33.

Fixedly mounted on U-shaped bracket31 is a thread guide plate 34 havingtwo parallel sets of guides holes 35 and 36 formed therein for theguiding of strands of yarn 37 around the feed roller 27. It will beapparent that, if desired, in lieu of the single plate 34, two separatespaced apart plates 34 and 41, each having one set of guide holes 35 and42 therein, might conveniently be used, or the two plates 34 and 41 canbe used with three sets of guide holes 35, 36 and 42. In order to assuresubstantially no slippage between the yarn and the roller 27, the rollerhas a covering of emery cloth 38 or other suitable friction materialsecured therearound.

In operation, the desired number of strands of yarn 37 are fed fromsupply spools (not shown) suitably mounted above or to the side of thefeed roller 27. From the spools, each strand 37 passes through itsassociated guide hole 35 in the plate 34, around roller 27 a distance ofapproximately two-thirds of the circumference thereof, throughassociated guide hole 36, through associated guide hole 42 in the plate41 if provided, and thence through associated guide holes in a pair ofguides 39 and 40, and finally to its associated needle 17. Guides 39 and40 may be mounted in fixed stationary relation in any suitable manner onthe arm 13, as shown.

The reduction gearing 29 provides approximately the correct feed of thestrands of yarn 37 and, by the correct adjustment of adjustable pulley22, the desired tension on the strands maybe attained and the properrate of feed maintained inorder to keep this tension. For largevariations in rates of feed, different sized rollers 27 may be used,with pulley 22 again being used for fine adjustment of feed and tensionas described above. It

will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art that thesimultaneous feed of all of the separate strands 37 over friction feedrollers 27 provides a uniform feed and tension in each of the strands.

It will thus be seen that the present invention greatly reduces theamount of labor previously required in setting and maintaining thetension on chenille and similar type machines. Further, with the presentinvention, the yarn is uniformly fed with uniform tension on each strandof yarn, the result being a much more satisfactory product therefromthan with previous machines.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention, and it is understood thatthe invention is not to be limited to the structure shown herein, exceptas defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multiple thread sewing machine having a frame and a plurality ofsewing needles and drive means for reciprocating said needles, a threadfeeding and tensionhaving .a first row of apertures formed thereinparallel to the axis of the roller for ,guiding separate threadsapproaching the roller, and a second row of apertures formed in said:guide means parallel .to the axis of the roller for guiding separatethreads leaving the .no'ller, the apertures in the first row lyingsubstantially in planes with apertures in the second row, said planesbeing normal to the axis of the roller, and the first row of aperturesbeing spaced apart from the secondrow a distance less than the diameterof the roller.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which each row of apertures isequidistant from the axis of the roller. I

3. The invention according'to claim 1 in which second guide means aresupported on the opposite side of the first guide means from the roller'for changing the direction of the threads passing through the secondrow of apertures in the first guide means.

4. The inventihn according to claim 3 in which the .secondlguideineanscemprises arow oftapermresparallel to the axis of the roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS704,690 Saillet July 15, 1902 842,260 Sheer Jan. 29,1907 1,863,049Hermann June 14, 1932 1,970,703 1300s Li. -A11g.'2 l, 1934 1,972,265 7Hofmann etal. "Sept. '4, 1934 2,182,940 Brussell Dec. 12, 1939 2,266,632Frey Dec. 16., 1941 2,332,921 Kucera Oct. 26, 1943 2,501,413 SchiappaMar. 21, 1950 2,637,289 Grant et al. May 5, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 0 136,621 Switzerland :Mar. 17, 19310

